Taking in an Exchange Student Part 1

Last year we had two different friends who took in exchange students. One student was from Europe, the other from Asia. It started the wheels turning in my head and somewhere along the way we decided that it might be an interesting thing for our family to do as well… someday. Thinking about it, I began to research different organizations and found one with a user friendly website that detailed how their organization worked. I became a member and started looking at student profiles, trying to imagine one of those students in our home.

Now here is the problem with imagining such things, eventually you come across someone who seems to be a “perfect fit.” I did find that person. I spoke to my spouse and we decided that we would carry the investigation further and contact the organization about what the next step would be and see what kind of questions that they might have for us. During this time, my “perfect fit” disappeared off the website, apparently placed in another home. We decided to continue with the process anyway.

The organization planned a visit to our house to meet us, see our home and situation, and answer any further questions in person. We had a lovely time with this couple who have had 17 exchange students over the years in their own home. They were knowledgeable and encouraging. We filled out our paperwork, including information for a background check (which I was relieved to hear that they do) on us. We are, by the way, working with a well known organization and the background check information was sent by us, not them, to a secure site (don’t hand out your personal information willy-nilly).  

I continued to peruse the website for another “perfect fit.” One of the things that I like best about the process is reading the letters written by the students. This includes, usually, their reasons for wanting to study overseas, some information about their life in their home country, and a plea for a really nice family to take them in for the year. I love the letters. The most interesting thing that I’ve noticed in these letters is the common theme of what they expect in an American high school. There is a universal impression, no matter where they are from, that there is a special “American High School Spirit” that is not found elsewhere in the world. Most of the letters refer to this and how they would like to experience it. I hope to high heaven that this mythical spirit exists… or there are thousands of students from around the world who are going home disappointed each year.

Eventually, I did find another teenager that I liked enough from her letter to invite her to our home for a year. At that same time, however, I received an e-mail from our coordinator, that the first student that we had chosen was now available again. Hurrah! It felt like divine intervention. It’s funny how you get attached to an idea though. In some ways, I wish I could have both girls here for the year. I know many people do take in two students, to give them an instant friend who is sharing their same experience. Maybe after my own children are grown… but not now. So we invited student number one, sending a letter of our own describing our life and home and, no less importantly, the state of Alaska (they apply to come to the states, but do not get to choose a specific region).

I have our new “daughter’s” contact information and will be calling her for the first time this weekend. I am really excited for my family and for her. I think (and hope) that this will be a wonderful experience for all of us.